Who's Robbie Williams? Music profession and the true story of Higher Man defined

Higher man is a musical biopic centered on the lifetime of Robbie Williams, however as somebody whose fan base is primarily centered in the UK, the query of who he's to North American audiences is definitely a sound one. Higher manThe solid of characters tells Williams' story, from his childhood and rise to fame to the trials and tribulations he confronted as he reached the heights of stardom. The movie is from director Michael Gracey, who most lately helmed the critically divisive movie The best showman.

As one of many largest movies launched in January 2025 in home markets, Higher man is getting loads of consideration. The movie was launched within the UK on December 26, 2024, given Williams' recognition with British audiences, however American audiences may very well be forgiven for not figuring out the musician. Regardless of Williams' overwhelming fame within the UK, the artist by no means conquered home markets. With Higher manWith the constructive reception marking it as probably the greatest musical biopics of current years, it might be price exploring who Robbie Williams is for these unfamiliar along with his work.

Robbie Williams is the best-selling British solo artist of all time, with a profession spanning over 30 years

Williams' fame within the UK can't be underestimated

Whereas many North American audiences might not know Robbie Williams, there's a motive why Higher manThe Making of: Williams' profession as a solo artist in the UK, different elements of Europe, Asia and Australia. As of 2024, Robbie Williams is the best-selling British solo artist in historical past in relation to primary albums. By The pattern, Williams' 2022 album "XXV" topped the UK charts, giving the artist his 14th of its type, surpassing Elvis Presley's 13 UK number-one albums to achieve the acclaimed milestone.

An enormous consider Williams' overwhelming success within the UK can also be her longevity. The musician started his profession in 1990, at simply 16 years previous. Since then, Williams has launched into a solo and group profession and is now venturing into the world of movie with Higher manmanufacturing. Over the previous 30+ years, Williams has launched many albums and singles that haven't misplaced recognition among the many UK inhabitants, permitting him to turn out to be the best-selling artist the state has ever seen when it comes to primary information.

Robbie Williams was a member of Take That

Williams' breakthrough got here as one among 5

The preliminary stage of Williams' profession got here as a member of Take That. Higher manThe primary half explores this a part of Williams' life, detailing the aspiring musician's first audition in entrance of a ruthless music supervisor at age 15. After turning into a success, Williams was paired with 4 different younger individuals from the UK of various skills. units, combining to turn out to be Take That. Presumably, Take That grew to become one of the widespread bands of the Nineties within the UK, catapulting Williams and his co-members into true stardom.

Though Williams was by no means the lead singer of Take That, he was usually a distinguished focus of the British public and media resulting from his eccentric character. This brought about his private fame to achieve ranges unmatched by the opposite members of Take That, besides Gary Barlow. No matter particular person recognition, Take That's thought of one of many best-selling British boy bands of all time. The band nonetheless operates within the current - albeit with solely three members following the departure of Williams himself and Jason Orange.

Robbie Williams' music profession as a solo artist

Think about that this wasn't the one car for Williams' stardom

As talked about, Robbie Williams didn't final lengthy as a member of Take That. 5 years after the band's formation, Williams confronted an ultimatum from the opposite members: both the musician wanted to manage his substance abuse and cling to the band's strict ideas, or Take That will turn out to be a quartet. Williams selected the latter possibility, later beginning a profession as a solo artist. Evidently, Williams' solo profession was simply as profitable as his band's profession, with the mixed accolades combining to assist the musician obtain the aforementioned title of best-selling British artist in historical past.

From 1996 onwards, Williams' solo profession started. Williams launched seven studio albums as a solo artist after leaving Take That, every of them turning into large successes within the British market. A second stint as a part of Take That got here in 2010, however Williams' solo profession additionally persevered. Between 2009 and 2022, Williams launched six extra studio albums, solidifying his immense success as a solo artist.

Though Williams is primarily described as a pop artist, particularly as a part of Take That, the singer's solo profession has had a assorted sound. Higher man explores this too, with the movie detailing how Williams was impressed by the likes of Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.. from a younger age. In his solo profession, these influences might be heard way more prominently than in Take That. In some ways, that is seemingly linked to Williams' success as a solo artist, as his sound might be each comparable and completely different to Take That.

Higher Man covers the true story of Robbie Williams from 1982 to 2009

The place Higher man so far as it goes, the movie covers all of those elements of Williams' life. Along with his musical profession, Higher man focuses on the intricacies of Williams' private life. The movie begins in 1982, when Williams was simply eight years previous, detailing his household connections, psychological well being points, his time in Take That, his breakthrough as a solo artist and the difficulties {that a} stratospheric rise to fame can carry.

Maybe one of the intriguing components Higher man is Robbie Williams' illustration. As a substitute of hiring an actor to easily play the musician, the choice was made to have Williams portrayed by a CGI monkey. The rationale for this stems from Williams' view of himself as somebody much less advanced than these round him, in addition to the connotation of musicians as performing monkeys to followers around the globe. In Higher manWilliams supplies the movie's narration in addition to some voiceovers, with English actor Jonno Davies offering voice work and movement seize.

Whereas Higher manThe timeline is considerably altered from Williams' actual life and naturally has some dramatized components, the movie does a superb job of portraying the musician's life. The movie is commonly hard-hitting resulting from its exploration of Robbie Williams' psychological well being and substance abuse points, and the way it all ties into his extremely profitable profession. Though many within the UK have been already conscious of this story, audiences within the Americas have been in all probability unaware of the trials and tribulations, and even the true success, of Robbie Williams, making Higher man much more intriguing as a musical biopic.